D*mn the Torpedos

I thought a Veteran's Day title appropriate, since parents do often feel like they're in battle when setting limits on their kids - even limits that have health implications.

I've been working with a certain young man for many years.  He's a great guy, very social with some special needs.  You couldn't find a nicer person.  His parents also - as nice as you can find.  His doctor recently told him that he needed to lose weight due to a number of medical issues - all of them with significant potential to hurt him.

Our first meeting after the MD appointment resulted in a simple but effective plan to inhibit his indulgent eating habits.  He protested mightily, but, bless his heart, he's more bluster than anything.  I told him that I too - indeed most all of us hate, HATE to have our preferred foods restricted in any way.  But as we discussed in detail the potential harm that could come to him via his obesity, he conceded.  Begrudgingly.  Very begrudgingly.

Until he left my office.  He has a long history - as many special needs kids do - of warfare with his parents/s.  Some kids are violent, a tough situation to deal with, but it's do-able.  In this case, it's exclusively verbal, thankfully.  But it wears mom down none the less.  She's understandably exhausted and, not surprisingly, ultimately succumbed to his verbal assaults and his open access to unhealthy foods on an almost daily basis resumed.

So we met again today and worked out a compromise that would allow continued social time at his favorite feeding holes - with him agreeing to brown bag his lunch and mom to supervise the pocket change he has to inhibit his access to foods that are harmful.

We'll see how this round goes.  I'm anticipating more battles, but hopefully, mom will stand strong as the onslaught of complaints, bargaining, promises (lots of promises), pleading and refusal to comply with the agreement resumes.

So, my Veteran's Day message to all parents of all kids: Stand Strong.  Stand By What You Know Is Right. You Are the Leaders of Your Family.  You Can Win This Battle.